11 Amazing Queer Political Moments in 2017

By H Kapp-Klote

December 29, 2017

It was a tough year for LGBTQ+ people; here's how we fought back.

In many ways, 2017 was a trash fire for queers and straights alike. Yet in spite of the various attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in the United States and across the world, queer people still managed to thrive and take back power whenever possible. Here are some of the queer moments in 2017 that amply demonstrate the fierceness and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community:

Local and state initiatives across the country make life better for LGBTQ+ people.While things got increasingly worse on the federal level for LGBTQ+ people, culminating in the ban on the word “transgender” among others at the CDC, activists fought for the initiatives that mattered most on the local level in 2017. This focus on local arenas meant winning key victories like the ban of conversion therapy in Seattle, the revision of 25 cities’ employee health care plans in 2017 to cover transgender-related health services, and the passage of an all-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance in Birmingham, the first ever ordinance of its kind in Alabama.

Michael Johnson's 30 year sentence for not disclosing his HIV-positive status to partners is reversed.At the beginning of the year, a major injustice was corrected. Michael Johnson, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for not disclosing his HIV-positive status to partners, had his conviction overturned. Michael’s case was wildly sexualized and racialized by the media, and the Missouri Supreme Court called it “wildly unfair” in overturning the ruling. In spite of this, prosecutors continue to pursue trying the case again.

Ashlee Marie Preston confronts Caitlyn Jenner to say what we’ve all been thinking.2017 also brought tensions within the LGBTQ+ community to a head — at a Trans Chorus of L.A. event this August, black trans woman and Editor-In-Chief of Wear Your Voice Magazine Ashlee Marie Preston told Caitlyn Jenner off for supporting Donald Trump’s presidency, calling that support the “ultimate betrayal” of the transgender community. Jenner, often lauded as a transgender visionary in mainstream straight media, did not respond, but Preston’s video brought up critical conversations about divisions in the transgender community based on power and wealth.

The Black Pride 4 is arrested in Cleveland and receives international support.Also in June, queer and trans people of color in Columbus, Ohio made international news after organizers were arrested for blocking the Columbus Pride Parade. Four of the group, arrested and facing charges like “aggravated robbery, resisting arrest, causing harm to a police officer, failure to comply with a police officer’s order, and disorderly conduct,” became known as the Black Pride 4. As Wriply Bennett told the press, “We were brutalized in the streets, and we were unjustly arrested. We were disrespected and dehumanized, but we’re still alive.” Their court date is set for February 2018.

Photo by Josh Edelson

People cheer and hold up signs showing support for Chelsea Manning in the Castro District of San Francisco, California on May 17, 2017.

Chelsea Manning is pardoned, saves the internet.After seven years of confinement for disclosing 750,000 classified military documents to Wikileaks, Chelsea Manning received a presidential pardon from Barack Obama. She was released immediately, and to the benefit of all, started a revolutionary Twitter account, signing off nightly to her 316K followers with an uplifting “#WeGotThis” (and innumerable emojis).

The LGBTQ+ community fights for Reina GossettWhen David France’s documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson premiered on Netflix, there was enthusiasm and excitement from all those who wanted to know more about this critical figure in trans history. But shortly after, trans historian and filmmaker Reina Gossett accused France of lifting from her research and archive work. “Too often, people with resources who already have a platform become the ones to tell the stories of those at the margins rather than people who themselves belong to these communities.” Many rallied to Gossett’s side, including Janet Mock, who penned an editorial that outlined why it’s important for trans people to tell the stories of other trans people.

Australia, Malta, and Germany legalize gay marriageAcross the world, there were gay fall weddings, as same sex marriage was legalized in three different countries this fall. Malta legalized it in September, Germany in October, and November for Australia. In Australia, the initiative came after a public referendum showed incredible popular support for gay marriage, in spite of conservative norms in the country.

Photo by The Washington Post

Danica Roem

Transgender politicians clean up at the polls.On election night this year, seven transgender people were elected to office across the United States. Danica Roem, a journalist, heavy metal musician, and trans woman, was elected to Virginia House of Delegates. Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham were both elected to Minneapolis’ City Council, and four other transgender people took office, making history.

Roy Moore is defeated thanks to queers, socialists, and black voters.Roy Moore’s sexual misconduct, and the many public figures who leaped to defend him, was a repugnant reminder of just how much white cis men with power can get away with. The fact that he blamed LGBTQ+ people and socialists for the allegations just made things worse. His defeat, however, made possible by the voting power of black women, made for a hopeful end for 2017.

H Kapp-Klote is a writer and digital organizer from Kansas. Their writing has appeared in Truthout, The Chicago Reader, and In These Times.